Oxfordshire · London and the South East
Chimney survey in Ardington, Oxfordshire
Chimney surveys in Ardington from an independent, experienced roof surveyor. Over 5,000 surveys and 20+ years behind us.
- Mortar washing out of the joints
- Cracked or missing flaunching
- Flashings pulling away from the stack
Common roof problems in Ardington
Many chimneys are no longer used. If a stack is capped or blocked without ventilation, moisture can build up inside. Damp patches can appear on chimney breasts even when nothing is leaking.
Most people get in touch after spotting something like this:
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Staining on walls around the chimney
- Bricks with flaking faces
- Mortar washing out of the joints
For an older house near a landmark like Church of the Holy Trinity, its roof may have old fixings, lead flashings and chimneys that need a closer look.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is there a chance to talk the report through?
- Whether the price includes VAT
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- What experience they bring
Chimney survey in Ardington
For buyers, a chimney survey before exchange can flag work you may want to raise. On older stacks, we often find cracked flaunching, loose flashings and worn pointing. You get photos and findings you can take back to the seller or agent. It works alongside a RICS home survey, not instead of one. Typical surveys look at cracked or missing flaunching and a chimney out of line, across chimney pots and cowls, shared and party-wall stacks and chimney breasts.
Older buildings in small places like Ardington may be listed or in a conservation area. If yours is, re-roofing in different materials may need consent, so the council is the place to check. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials such as clay tiles, slate and stone are often matched when work is done.
The report is yours to share with whoever needs it: a seller or estate agent, an insurer, a roofer, a builder or a managing agent, whichever applies.
- Place
- Ardington (OX12)
- Wider area
- Oxfordshire
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Checking the roof from ground level
If you have a loft with safe access, take a look inside. Take a torch and only step on boards or joists, and look for staining, damp timber or daylight coming through.
A lot can be seen from ground level. Binoculars help you spot slipped slates or tiles, gaps along the ridge and a leaning stack. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
What we look for on each type of roof
Rendered stacks
Water can get in through cracks and then struggle to dry out. Cracks are photographed and noted.
Brick stacks
Brick stacks rely on sound pointing to keep water out. We check the bricks for spalling and the joints for erosion.
Surveys for landlords and agents in Ardington
Surveys can also be booked by buyers’ agents acting for a client. The report is emailed, so it can go straight to your client, photographs included.
For a freeholder or residents’ company, a roof report is a sound basis for a maintenance plan, putting the urgent items at the top.
Common questions in Ardington
Is Ardington within the area you cover?
Yes, Ardington is covered. We survey roofs across London and the South East, from towns to the smallest villages. The journey is planned ahead, so it’s useful to know about access.
How do I find out if my home in Ardington is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. If it is capped without ventilation, damp can build up inside. Our survey records its condition and how it’s capped, so you can decide with a builder what to do.
Do you survey roofs on blocks of flats?
Yes. A shared roof needs access agreed first, with whoever owns or manages the building. Mention it when you get in touch and we’ll plan the survey around it.
Are you structural engineers?
No. We’re experienced roof surveyors, and visible signs like sagging are noted, but we don’t provide calculations or an engineer’s opinion. If one is needed, the report says so.
Will you check the loft?
If it is needed and safe to reach, yes. Inside, we look for damp, staining, gaps and sagging.
What will the report tell me?
It works through the roof part by part, in writing and with photos, finishing with recommendations. The most urgent items are made clear.
Prices for chimney surveys in Ardington
Every roof is different, so prices are confirmed before you book. This is what makes a difference:
- The height of the building and how the roof can be seen safely
- House, block, shop or office
- The shape of the roof and its details
- The number of roofs, including extensions and garages
Price depends partly on the package: from £150 for Basic, £250 for Standard and £400 for Premium, with VAT included. Size, height and access can affect the price too.
What to let us know when you contact us
There is no need for technical words. It’s enough to tell us:
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- The type of building and roof, such as pitched or flat
- Your timetable, such as an exchange date
- Where water is showing inside, if it is
Getting a price is simple: just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and give us some details about the property and we will recommend the right survey. We confirm the price before anything is booked.
What happens on the day
The aim of the visit is simple: to see as much of the chimney stack as can safely be seen and record it clearly. Everything we note and photograph goes into the written report. The visit usually takes between one and two hours at a typical home, with bigger or more complicated roofs taking longer. In a hamlet or village like Ardington, a postcode doesn’t always lead to the right gate, so a few directions are welcome. After that, the survey runs as it would anywhere.
- We start by noting which stacks are in use, shared or causing concern.
- The flashings and the roof around each chimney are inspected.
- The top of each stack is checked for cracked flaunching and loose pots.
- Any lean, spalling or worn pointing is recorded.
- You receive a written report setting out what needs attention first.
Getting ready for the survey
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Leave side gates unlocked
- Gather any invoices or paperwork from past roof work
How to book
A quick phone call is normally the easiest start: call 07833 053749 or send us an email. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Related advice
What a chimney survey looks like in Ardington
Older buildings in west Oxfordshire often have Cotswold stone slate roofs, and some Oxfordshire villages still have thatch. In this part of the South East, older roofs are mostly slate or clay tile and many newer ones concrete tile. Knowing the covering helps explain which parts of a roof are likely to need work first. If your home is older, it is worth knowing whether it is listed or in a conservation area before planning roof work. Listed building consent covers changes to a listed building’s special interest, and an Article 4 direction can bring extra controls in a conservation area.
Take a building like Wantage Primary Academy: a written record of a large roof helps plan work for the holidays rather than in term time.
Ardington is about 2 miles east of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. Bookings from Ardington are handled just like any other: get in touch, agree the price and pick a day. Ardington is one of the towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover for chimney surveys. Oxford is in our area too.
We survey roofs across OX12 for chimney surveys and the streets around it. Whether your property is on High Street, Church Street and Well Street or a nearby road, we can help. If you’re just outside Ardington, we cover East Lockinge (1 mile south), West Hendred (1 mile east), East Hendred (2 miles east), Rowstock (3 miles east) and Farnborough (4 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (13 miles north-east), Didcot (6 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (7 miles north-east), Witney (14 miles north), Carterton (15 miles north-west) and Faringdon (10 miles north-west).
Local landmarks in Ardington
We work in homes and buildings around The Boar's Head pub and King Alfred's. Other landmarks nearby include Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection (2.3 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Letcombe Valley and Chain Hill.